According to TechCrunch, Google plans to buy more digital camera technology with Lytro, the "light field optics" startup best known for cameras allowing users to shoot first and focus later.

Founded in 2006 under the name Refocus Imaging, Lytro first started as a hardware maker, selling consumer and professional cameras based on "infinite focus" technology such as the eponymous Lytro and DSLR-style Illum. However the hardware market remains as cutthroat as ever, leading to Lytro refocusing attentions on video, cinematography and AR/VR.

The Rylo pocket-size 360-degree camera gets Android support via companion app for devices running  on the OS complete with video stabilisation, directing and editing capabilities.

Launched back in November 2017 for iDevices, the Rylo sits somewhere between the low-cost Insta360 One and high-end GoPro Fusion cameras. It features a pair of 208-degree lenses and auto-stabilisation technology, and records video as a 4K resolution 360-degree sphere. Video transfers between camera and app take place not via wifi but through a traditional transfer cable.

Fujifilm announces a retro-style mirrorless camera-- the X-A5, an update on the entry-level X-A3 featuring a 24.2MP Bayer sensor with on-chip phase detection, faster autofocus, 4K video and a microphone input.

Part of the company's X-A series line of APS-C cameras, the X-A5 is comes wrapped in brown, pink or black faux leather. The design is more or less identical to the X-A3, with the same controls and articulated touchscreen customers can flip up by 180-degrees for easy selfie snapping.

On the photography hardware side, the X-A5 features on-chip phase detection pixels and an intelligent Hybrid autofocus system the company says focuses twice as fast as the previous models. Native ISO sensitivity reaches 12800 (with maximum range of 51200), reducing camera shake and noise in low-light conditions.

CamFi promises faster wireless photo transfers between cameras and PCs with the Pro-- a camera controller using 802.11ac wifi to push photos 2-3x faster than the wifi found built-in most camera bodies.

According to the company, most wifi-enabled cameras use 802.11n, meaning photo transfers can take as long as 30 seconds. The Pro doubles the speed through a connection reaching up to 10MB/s, an improvement over the 2MB/s of many built-in connection systems. This allows users to transfer larger RAW files to other devices, as well as the sending of a JPEG of a file to a device for an almost instant view of a shot.

Accessory maker Razer announces a pair of "streamer certified" peripherals-- the Kiyo, a webcam with built-in ring lighting, and the Seiren X USB condenser microphone.

The Kiyo features an adjustable ring light with 12 white LEDs users can control to 12 levels of brightness. It has a 4MP camera able to record either 1080p video at 30fps or 720p video at 60fps, and is compatible with the XSplit and Open Broadcaster Software streaming tools. Connectivity comes through 1.5m braided USB 2.0 cable.

Meanwhile the Seiren X is the first microphone from Razer. It has 25mm condenser capsule, a tighter recording angle the company says is optimised for streaming and built-in shock mount to dampen vibrations. A desktop stand is included, and connectivity comes through USB and a zero-latency 3.5mm headphone monitoring jack.

GoPro continues to battle it out against both smartphones and the rest of the action camera competition as it presents the Hero 6 Black and the Fusion, the company's take on the 360-degree cameras.

As a refresh of both Hero and Black GoPro camera lines, the Hero 6 Black offers all the features expected from a high-end action camera. It shoots 4K video at 60fps, as well as slow motion at 2.7K at 120fps and super-slo-mo 240fps at 1080p resolution. Dynamic range should also be improved for better images in mixed lighting conditions, while digital image stabilisation promises to eliminate camera shake and vibrations.

Powering such improvements is the first GoPro custom processor, the GP1. Designed specifically for the company by Socionext, the GP1 gives the camera more control over image processing flow. Another improvement is in wifi, since the camera uses 5GHz connectivity for faster pairing with smartphones.

IFA 2017 has Acer launch a pair of 360-degree LTE-connected cameras-- the Holo360 and the Vision360, with the former aimed at general use and the latter being an in-car dash cam.

The Holo360 is the size and shape of a smartphone, and uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor to stitch 4K resolution 360-degree videos. It features a 3-inch touchscreen and runs on Android 7.1, making it easy to share videos without need for connection to a smartphone or PC.

360-degree camera maker Insta360 presents another product ideal for customers wanting to take more immersive photography-- the Insta360 One, a camera able to shoot 24MP stills and 4K resolution video.

The One is a small device the size of a small sausage link. It features 2 cameras, and can either be plugged into the iPhone Lightning port or used remotely, with the phone acting as Bluetooth controller. Gyroscopic stabilisation promises more steady video recording, the main body has a built-in tripod mount and an included protective case doubles as a stand.

An interesting "FreeCapture" mode allows one to "shoot first, point later." This means one can take a 360-degree photo or video, then spin, pinch and zoom the image to frame a 16:9, 4:3 or 1:1 composition to create a 2D image. The camera can even edit out any selfie sticks for cleaner images.